12alpha-halo alkyl-12beta-hydroxy-pregnane derivatives and process for the production thereof



United States Patent i l 12oz-HALO ALKYL-lZfl-HYDROXY-PREGNANE DE- RIVATIVES AND PROCESS FOR THE PRODUC- TION THEREOF Josef Fried, Princeton, -N.J., assign'or to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Virginia I No Drawing. Filed Oct. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 848,220

14 Claims. (Cl. 260-23955) This application is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 751,860, filed July 30, 1958, now abandoned.

1 This application has for its object the provision of a new class of physiologically active steroids, which may be represented by the formula CHzY wherein the 1,2 position is saturated or double-bonded, A is hydrogen or lower alkyl, Y ishydrogen, hydroxy or acyloxy, X is halogen, and Z is hydrogen or hydroxy. These steroids are prepared by interacting a 12-alkylidene steroid of the formula V vent (e.g., dioxa'ne or tertiary butanol) containing water I and a relatively strong acid (e.g., perchloric'acid).

The 1200-11210 allryl-l2fl-hydroxy steroids thus formed can then be converted to their 12-epoxy derivatives by treatment with a basic reagent such as potassium acetate, potassium carbonate, potassium hydroxide or sodium methoxide to yield a 12 -epoxy derivative of the formula wherein. the 1,2-position is saturated or double-bonded, and'A,"Y and Z are as hereinbefore defined, new intermediates of this invention.

which are u The epoxides can then beinteracted-with a hydrogen halide (i.e., hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen vchloride, hy drogen bromide and hydrogen iodide) in accordance with the methods disclosed in my application, Serial No. 417,489, filed March 10, 1954, to yield therespectiye 12a-halo alkyl-lZfi-hydroxy derivatives.

The 12a-halo alkyl-IZB-hydroxy steroids of this invention possess progresstational activity, andv thus may be used in lieu of known progestational steroids,.such as progesterone, for example, in the treatment of habitual abortion, being formulated for such administratiqnflin the same type of parenteral preparations as progesterone, for example, with concentration and/or do sage based on the activity of'the particular compound. I 1 j..

Suitable starting 12-alkylidene steroids for the process of this invention can be prepared as disclosed in the applications of Thomas et al., Serial No. 711,780, ifiled January 29, 1958, and Serial No. 847,044, filed October 19, 1959. Thus, the 12-alkylidene starting materials for this invention are prepared by interacting (A) one of the following: 12u-(lower alkyl)-1lu-hydr0xyprogesterone; 12a-(lower alkyl-A -pregnadiene-11u ol 3,20-dione;: 12bi- (lower alkyl)-11a,17a-dihydroxyprogesterone; 12a-(lower alkyl)-A -pregnadiene-11a,17a-diol-3,2O-dione; or one of the following steroids in-the free or 21-esterified' form? 12oc-( lower alkyl) A pregnene-l1'u,21-diol-3,20 dione; 12m-(lower alkyl) A pregnadiene-l1a,21-diol-3,20 dione; IZa-(lower aIkyD-M-pregn'ene-lla,17a,21-triol 3, 20-dione; and 12a-(lower alkyl)-A -pregnadiene 1ld, 17a,21-triol-3,20-dione; with (B) a lower alkyl or mono:- cyclic hydrocarbon aromatic sulfonyl' halide, su'chjas mesyl chlorideand tosyl chloride, whereby are formed the Ila-lower alkane (or monocyclie hydrocarbon are? matic) sulfonyloxy derivatives of the formula wherein the 1,2-position is saturated or double-bonded)- R and Z are as hereinbefore defined, Y is hydrogen or acyloxy, and R' is lower alkyl (preferably methyl)'or' monocyclic hydrocarbon aryl (preferably p-tolyl). The reaction is preferably conducted in an organic solvent in the presence of an organic base such as pyridine.

The starting 12a-(lower alkyl)-lla-hydroxyprogesterone and 12a-(lowe r a1kyl) -A -pregnadiene-1let-014,20- dio'nereactants c'anbe prepared by diketalizing 9a -fluor'o= ll ketoprogesterone or 9u flu'oro-A -pregnadiene-3,11,2.O trione in the usual manner by treating with'ethylene glycol in" the presence of an acid catalyst, and interacting the 3,20-diketal-of 9a-fluoro-1l-ketoprogesterone or the 3,20-dil cetal of 9a-fluoro-A -pregnadiene-3,l1,20-trione thus formed with lithium lower alkyl (e.g., lithium methyl), thereby yielding the 3,20-diketal of 12u-lower alky'l e.g., methyl)1l-ketopr'ogesterorie or the 3,20-diket'al of 12a-lower alkyl (e.g., methyl)-A -pregnadiene-3,11,20 trione, respectively. The resulting dike'tals are reduced by means of'a reducing agent, such as lithium metal in liquid ammonia, to yield the 3,20-diketal of lZa-IOWcr alkyl-llu-hydroxyprogesterone or the 3,20-diketal of 12u-lower 'alkyl-A preg'nadiene 11a-ol-3',20-dione, respectively, and then hydrolyzed in the usual mannen'as by treatment with a dilute aqueous acid 'at an elevated 1 temperature, to the'desired'12a-loweralkyl-llbt-hydroxyprogesterone or the '12a-l'ower alkyl-A -pregnadiene-1laol-3 ,-20-dione respectively.

The starting 12u-(lower' alkyl)-A -pregnene-llot-2ldiol-3,20.-dione-2l -ester and l2a-(lower alkyl)-A -preg- *nadiene llu,21-diol-3,20 dione-2l ester reactants are preparedby: (a) reducing, with a reducing agent such as lithium aluminum hydride, the 3,20-diketal of 12a- -(-lower *alkyl)-11-ketoprogesterone and the 3,20-diketal of {Zen-"(lower alkyl)-A -pregnadiene3,11,2O-trione, respectively to obtain the corresponding 11B- hydroxy-deriva- 'tiv'es; (b treating the llfl-hydroxy derivative with a diesterof oxalic acid (e.g., a lower alkyl ester such as {ethyl oxalate) in the presence of approximately one I equivalent'of an alkali metal alkoxide (e.g., sodium methbxide), whereby the alkali metal enolate of the ester of '2l-hydroxyoxalyl-l2a-(lower alkyl)-1'1;8-hydroxyprogesterone and 21-hydroxyoxalkyl-lZa-(lower alkyl)-A pregnadiene-l1B-ol-3,20-dione are formed; (0) interactingthe alkali metal enolate ester with a base, such as an alkali metal hydroxide, to yield a 2l-oxalyl-l2af(lower. alkyD-lIB-hydroxyprogesterone and 21-oxa1yl- Ila-(lower alkyD-N regnadiene-I1fi-ol-3,20-dione, respectively; (d) treating the oxalyl compounds thus tormed with iodine in a basic medium to yield 2l-iodo- =l2a-( lower alkyl)-llfi-hydroxyprogesterone and 21-iodo- LlZa-(lower alkyl)-A -pregnadiene-1lfi-ol-3,20-dione, respectively; (e) converting the 21-iodo group to a 21- acyloxy group by treatment with the desired acid salt (preferably in the presence of the free acid), thereby yielding .a 2l-ester of l2u-(lower alkyl)-corticosterone and 12a (lower alkyl) A pregnadiene 11fi,2l-diol-3,20- dione, respectively, (,i) oxidizing the 2l-ester of 120:- (lower alkyl)-corticosterone (or the 1,2-unsaturated thereof) with an oxidizing agent such as chromium trioxide; (3) hydrolyzing the .ll-keto analog thus prepared with a base such as potassiumearbonate; (h) ketalizing the 12a-(lower alkyl)-ll dehydrocorticosterone (or the 1,2-unsaturate thereof), thus obtained, with ethylene glycol; (a) reducing the 3,20-bis-ethylene ketal with a reducing agent such as lithium in ammonia; and (j) deketalizing the thus obtained 12a-(l0wer alkyl)-1la-hydroxy compounds'with a :hydrolyzing agent such as a dilute aqueous acid to obtain l2a-(lower alkyl)-A -pregnene-llu,21-diol-3,20-dione or the 1,2-unsaturate thereof. The starting l2a-(lower alkyl)-A -pregnene-11m,17u, 21 triol-3,20-dione-2l-ester and Ila-(lower a1kyl)-A pregnadiened1u,17a,21-triol-3,20 dione 21-ester reactants can be prepared from Hot-(lower alky1)-l lfi-hydroxyprogesterones (e.g., IZa-methyl-IIB-hydroxyprogesterone and IZa-ethyl-lIB-hydroxyprogesterone) by the following series of reactions: (a) reacting the starting steroid with a diester of oxalic acid (e.g., a lower alkyl ester such as ethyl oxalate) in the presence of at least twoequivalents of an alkali metal alkoxide '(e.'g., sodium methoxide) whereby the diester of 2,21-oxalyl-12a- (lower alkyl)--l lB-hydroxyprogesterone, as well as its alkali metal dienolate, is formed; (b) reacting the diester with approximately three moles of bromine per mole of steroid and an alkali metal alkoxide to yield first the 2,21,21- tribromide derivative and then the alkyl ester of Z-bromo- 12e- (lower alkyl) -A -pregnadiene-l 1,8-01-3 -one-2loi'c acid; .(c) debrominating the latter compound, as by treatment with zinc in an acid medium, to yield the corresponding -2-debrominated derivative; (d) treating the debrominated compound with pyrrolidine to yield 3pyrrolidino .12a-( lower alkyl)A -pIegnatriene-I lfl-ol- 3-one-21-oic acid alkyl ester; (e) reducing the 2l-acid, as by treatment with lithium aluminum hydride, to yield l2a-( lower alkyl) -A -pregnadiene-l 1fl,2'l-diol-3 one; (f) acylating the latter compound in the usual manner, as by treatment with the acyl halide or acid anhydride :of a suitable organic carboxylic acid, to yield the 21-ester derivative; (g) reducing the 21-ester by treatment with oxmium tetroxide and .phenyliodosoacetate to give the 21- esters of Hot-(lower alkyl) hydrocortisones; (h)'oxidizing the 21-esters with an oxidizing agent (e.g., chromium trioxide) to yield 2l-esters of '12a-(lower alkyl) 'cortisones'; (i) hydrolyzing the 12-keto compound with a base such as potassium carbonate; (j) ketalizing the 12-keto analog, thus obtained, with ethylene glycol; (k) reducing, as by treatment with an alkali metal (e.g.,' lithium) in liquid ammonia, to yield the corresponding llu-hydroxy "derivatives; and (l) deketalizing the llu-hydroxy derivative thus obtained by hydrolysis to give the desired 12a-(lower :alkyl) -A pregnene 1la,.l7oc,21 1tlOl-3,ZD-dlOnGS. The 120a (lower alkyl) A pregnene l1a,17a,21-tri013,20- diones can then be l-dehydrogenated microbioally by means of Bacterium cyclo-oxydans by the method disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,822,318 to yield the corresponding l-2a-(lower alkyl)-A -pregnadiene-1la,17a,2ltriol-3,20-diones.

The Hot-(lower alkyl)-lla,17u-dihydroxyprogesterone and 1 2m (lower alkyl) A -pregnadiene-l1u,l7et-diol-3, 20-dione reactants can be prepared by interacting a 21- alkane sulfonic acid ester (e.g., mesyl and ethanesulfonyl) of a IZKX-(IOWBI alkyl) hydrocortisone (e.g., IZa-methylhydrocortisone or IZa-ethylhydrocortisone) or 12a- (lower alkyl) prednisolone (e.g., Hot-methyl prednisolone) with an alkali metal iodide (e.g., sodium iodide), preferably at an elevated temperature in an organic solvent for the steroid reactant, *thereby yielding the corresponding 21-iodo derivatives [i.e., a 21-iodo-12u-(lower a1kyl)-11Bl7a-dihydroxyprogesterone and a 2l-iodo-l2a- (lower alkyl) A -pregnadiene-llfi,l2a-diol-3,20-dione]. The 2l-iodo compounds thus formed are then treated with an alkali metal bisulfite (e.-g., sodium bisulfite) to deiodate the intermediate thereby forming Hot-(lower alky l) 115,170: dihydroxyprogesterones. The llfi-hy- I droxy steroids thus formed are then oxidized in the usual manner, as by treatment with a hexavalent chromic compound (e.g., chromium trioxide) to yield the corresponding ll-keto derivatives [e. g., a 12a-(1ower alkyl)-11-ketol7a-hydroxyprogesterone and a 12a-(lower alkyl)-A pregnadiene-lh ol 3,11,20-trione). The ll-keto compounds are then ketalized, as by treatment with a dihydric alcohol (e.g., ethylene glycol) to yield the corresponding 3,20-diketal derivatives, which in turn are reduced, as by treatment with an alkali metal (e.g., lithium) in liquid ammonia, to yield the corresponding Ila-hydroxy derivatives. These llu-hydroxy steroids can then be hydrolyzed, as by treatment in a suitable solvent such as methanol with a dilute aqueous acid at an elevated temperature, to yield IZa-(lower alkyl)-A -pregnene-l-1u, 17a-diol-3,20-diones and 120t-(1OWCI' alkyl)-A -pregnadiene-l 10:,17u-di0l-3 ,ZO-diones.

The intermediate Ila-lower alkane (or monocyclic hydrocarbon aromatic) sulfonyloxy derivatives are then treated with a salt of a strong base and weak acid (e.g., sodium acetate) in the presence of a weak acid (e.g., acetic acid) whereby the alkane (or monocyclic hydrocarbon aromatic) sulfonic acid is split off to give the desired 12-alkylidene final products. If a ill-ester is employed as the starting reactant and a free 21-hyclroxyl compound is desired, the steroid may be hydrolyzed in the usual manner to yield a free 21-hydroxyl steroid.

The following examples are illustrative of the invention (all temperatures being in centigrade):

EXAMPLE 1 1 2a-br0momethyl-1 2fl-hydroxyprogester0ne To a solution of mg. of 12-methyleneprogesterone in 7.1 ml. of dioxane and 4.2 ml. of 0.16 N perchloric acid is added 62 mg. of N-bromoacetamide and the solution allowed to remain in the dark at room temperature for 20 minutes. Excess N-bromoacetamide is destroyed by the addition of sodium sulfite, and chloroform and wat'er is added. The chloroform-dioxanephase isextracted with dilute sodium bicarbonate solution and Water, dried over sodium sulfate and the solvents evaporated in vacuo.

S The rsidue'ris dissolved in 3 ml: ofwbenzene and.'9;ml. of hexane and the-:solutionchromatographed on of acid-washed alumina. Elution with 1200 ml. of benzenehexane- (1:'3):ryields amorphous'materiah; which is followed by a crystalline fraction when'the elution is con- EXAMPLE 2 Oxide-1Z-methyleneprogesterone To a solution of 30 mg. of 12a-bromomethyl-l2fi-hydroxy progesterone in 3 ml. of methanol is added with stirring at room temperature 0.2 ml. of 10% potassium carbonate. After one-half hour "the mixture is neutralized with glacial acetic'acid and after the addition of water extracted with chloroform. The chloroform solution is washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and the solvents removed in vacuo. The residual epoxide after crystallization from acetone-hexane has the following properties: M.P. about l45146, [:1 :3 +160 (c. 1.06 in CHCI 25, 238 mp (e=l4,600); A 23" 5.89, 6.97, 6.19;;

Analysis.Calcd. for C H 0 (342.46): C, 77.15; H, 8.83. Found: C, 77.38; H, 8.78.

Treatment of the epoxide with hydrogen bromide in chloroform-glacial acetic acid at 0 for 20 minutes regenerates the starting bromohydrin.

EXAMPLE 3 12a-chl0r0methyl-1 2p-hydroxyprogesterone To a solution of 25 mg. of oxido-lZ-methyleneprogesterone in 2.5 ml. of chloroform is added at 0 0.35 ml. of 0.54 N hydrogen chloride in chloroform. After 2 hours at 0 more chloroform, and dilute sodium bicarbonate is added to neutralize the excess acid, and the resulting chloroform extract is washed with water and dried over sodium sulfate. The residual chlorohydrin is recrystallized from acetone-hexane.

EXAMPLE 4 12 a-fluoromethyl-l Zfi-hydroxyprogesterone To a solution of 60 mg. of oxido-12-methyleneprogesterone in 9.5 ml. of chloroform and 0.5 ml. of ethanol is added at 0 hydrogen fluoride gas until a substantial layer of hydrogen fluoride has formed. The mixture is agitated at 0 for one hour and twenty minutes, neutralized with sodium bicarbonate and the layers separated. The chloroform phase is washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent removed in vacuo.

The residue is purified by crystallization from acetonehexane.

EXAMPLE 5 12a-iod'ornethyI-IZfi-hydroxyprogesterone Following the procedure of Example 3, but substituting 0.1 ml. of 54% aqueous hydrogen iodide for the hydrogen chloride there is obtained 12a-iodomethyl-IZp-hydroxyprogesterone.

EXAMPLE 6 12a-fluoromethyl-M-pregnene-IZBJI -di0l-3,20-di0ne 21 -acetate Following the procedures of Examples 1, 2 and 3, but substituting 100 mg. of 12-methylene-2l-hydroxyprogesterone -'21= acetate for t-the' ;l2emethyleneprogesterone :in Example 1, there is obtained 12a -bromomethyl-. 1-2p,2-l-di hydroxyprog'esterone' -21-acetat'e, ';oxido-'l2-methylene.-2lh-ydroxyprc'ig'estero'ne- '21.-acetate, sandv '12a-'fluoromethyl- 123,2l dihydroxyprogesterone '21-acetate, respectively. :Similarlyfioth'er.esters," such. as the 21 .propionate.,and 21-benzoate yield the corresponding ester derivatives. Furthermore, the 21- acetate obtained in Example 6 can be hydrolyzed inthe'usual manner, as by treatment with potassium carbonate to yield the free 21-hydroxy derivative. I

EXAMPLE 7 1 2a-fluoromethyl Af -pregnene-l 25,1 7a,21-tri0l-3,20- edione;

Following the procedures of Examples 1, 2 and 3, but substituting mg. of IZ-methyIene-M-pregnene-l7a,21- diol-3,20-di one for the l2 -mthyleneprogesterone in Ex ample 1, there is obtained 12a-bromomethyI M-pregnene- 1-2B,17u,2l '-triol=3,20 dion e, oxido=12-methylene-A -pregnene :,21- diol-3,20-dione, and 1*2r-fluoromethyl-A pregnen 12,8,17a,21 triol-3,20-dione; "respectivelyy Similarly, 12-methylene-A -pregn'adiene-3,20-dione, 12- methylene-A -pregnadine-17a,21-diol- 3,20 dio'ne, and -12 ethylideneeprogesterone yield the corresponding 121ibromomethyl-lZfi-hydroxy, 12a ('1-bromoethyl)-l2fl-hydroxy; oxido-12-methylene, oxido-12-ethylidene; and 12afiuoromethyl-12fi-hydroxyand 12u-(1-fluoroethyl)-12phydroxy derivatives.

The invention may be variously otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A member selected from the group consisting of a steroid of the general formula A CHgY XHC =0 A 37H CHzY and the 1,2 unsaturates thereof, wherein A is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl, Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy,

and asylum-and Z "is. selected from the 'group ac'ensisting bf hydtbgenhndhydmxyy f 4 r i 1'. Q". I A 9 A process fori'preparing :aste'roid :of claim :1 wherein X is rsel'ected frbmiheg'oup-consisting 0f bromo and chloro, whichwomprises interacting a member :selected from the :group consisting of compounds of the general .formula 2 V can:

and file .112 unseturates ihereof, wherein A, Y, and Z are as defined in claim :1, with'a halorcompound selected from ihe ,group consisting of an N-bronioamide and an N-chloroamide-pf afcarboxylic acidinhnaqueous medium, and xecovering nhe steroid .formed.

.\ 10. VA process for preparing l2a-bromomethyl-A pregnene- 12B-o1-3,20-dione, which comprises interacting 12- v1'0 droxyprogesterone, whichbomprises'interacting 01660-12 methylene pgogesterone with a hydrogen halide.

14. The compound of the formula I II No references cited. 

1. A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A STEROID OF THE GENERAL FORMULA 